Sheesham
Sheesham is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree, reaches height up to 30 m, whose Crown is wide spreading and thin. The plant bears flowers which are yellowish white in color. The pods are long, flat and 2-4 seeds in it. It is mainly used for medicinal and timber purposes. It is native to Himalayan foothills in Northern India and is distributed in many countries viz. India, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
Sheesham or Shimshapa is used for the treatment of obesity, vitiligo, fever, non healing wounds, ulcers, intestinal parasites etc. It is also used as tooth brush in many countries.
It’s botanical name is Dalbergia sissoo which belongs to Fabaceae family. It is also known as Indian Rosewood Tree in English.
Sissoo is an important timber tree of India. It has nut-brown heartwood which is very hard, heavy, strong and elastic. The wood is used for making doors, window frames, flooring, furniture, boats, cabinets, etc. The pulp of wood is also used for making papers.
Chemical Constituents –
• Leaves – Biochanin A, tectorigenin
• Stem bark- Isotectorigenin,
• Heart wood- Dalbergiphenol, Delbergenone, Dalbergin, Methly dalbergin
Properties –
• Abortifacient
• Antiihelmintic
• Antipyretic
• Aphrodisiac
• Expectorant
• Refrigerant
Effect on Tridosha –
Balances Kapha and Vata
Part used –
Leaves, Sara (heart wood extract), bark and root of shisham is used for medicinal purposes.
Dosage –
• Decoction 50-100 ml
• Leaf powder / Bark powder: 3-6 gram
• Fresh leaf paste: 5 grams
• Fresh leaves juice 10-15 ml
Benefits –
• Menorrhagia & Leucorrhoea
Giving 10-15 leaves of Sheesham juice twice a day with whole sugar is beneficial in excessive bleeding.
• Secondary Amenorrhoea
Leaf juice extract is used for treating secondary amenorrhea.
• Strangury (मूत्रकृच्छ)
A decoction of leaves twice a day helps in smooth urination and also reduces pain while urinating.
• Oligospermia & Impotency
The paste of 5 grams of tender leaves of shisham is taken with a cup of milk for 15-30 days.
• Cough
Sheesham balances Kapha and useful in productive cough and asthma.
• Jaundice
Giving 10-15 ml Sheesham leaves twice a day, is also beneficial in jaundice disease.
• Bloody diarrhea
Taking 10 grams of sugar in 5 ml Sheesham in amoebic dysentery, provides relief in bloody diarrhea.
• Skin problems and Wounds
Sheesham oil obtained by Sheesham wood and seed can be used externally to treat infected wounds. Applying it to skin diseases like Itching, burning sensation of the body is beneficial.
• Pimples
Boils and pimples mitigates by drinking 30 ml Sheesham leaves decoction in the morning.
• Leprosy
Drinking Sheesham leaves decoction with honey, in the morning for a month provides great benefit in leprosy.
• Excessive sweating
Having juice of 15-20 Sheesham leaves for 15 days with 10 grams of sugar in the morning reduces over sweating.
• Cholesterol maintainance
Sheesham is useful in promoting High-density lipoprotein and reducing low-density lipoprotein, thus it maintains a good cholesterol level.
• Gonorrhaea
Decoction of leaves is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea.
• Breast swelling
The leaves are warmed and tied at affected area for reducing swelling.
• Fever
Sheesham Sara ksheerapaka is indicated in treating fever. Sheesham is beneficial in all types of fever with medicinal properties. Take 20 grams of rosewood essence, 320 ml of water and 160 ml of milk. Mix them and cook in milk. When the milk remains little, give it 3 times a day. It cures fever.
• Sciatica
For sciatica, bark of the tree is used. Bark powder 1 kg is cooked in 2 liter water, till volume reduces to 1/8th. Then water is filtered and the paste is again cooked till it thickens. This thick bark preparation should be taken in a dose of ten grams, with milk for 3 weeks, thrice a day.
• Anaemia
To cure anemia, take 10-15 ml juice of Sheesham leaves. Taking it in the morning and evening is also beneficial in anemia.
Side effects –
• It is contra indicated during pregnancy.
• Root is best avoided during constipation.
• Leaf juice extract is contra indicated during heavy periods.
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